Man dies of hunger in Jharkhand a day after govt's denial in assembly

A 42-year-old man died reportedly of hunger in Jharkhand’s Bokaro district on Friday (March 7).

The death comes a day after the Hemant Soren-led  government told the assembly that the state did not have a history of ‘hunger deaths.’

Reports identified the deceased as Bhukhal Pasi, of Shankardih tola in Karma village, under Kasmar block in Bokaro district.

The Hindustan Times quoted Pashi’s wife Rekh Devi as saying that her husband died of hinger. claimed he died due to hunger. She said the family of seven, including her 14-year-old son Nitesh who worked in a dhaba, another son, and three daughters did not have food for four days.

The hunger death quickly assumed a political dimension with the state unit of the BJP wading in. State BJP spokesman Pratul Shahdeo said the JMM and the Congress used to say that dozens of people had died due to hunger when the Raghubar Das government was in power. “Now, they have admitted that it was a lie,” he said.

CPI (ML) legislators Binod Singh said the government should not forget the issues that they had raised to come to power. “It is a fact that several people have died in the state due to hunger. There is a need to review the entire food security policy and take corrective measures,” said Singh.

Food minister Rameshwar Oraon said the state was aware of the situation and many people were still out of the Food Security Act.

Chief Minister Hemant Soren ordered a probe into the incident.

HT said Bokaro Deputy Commissioner Mukesh Kumar had instructed officers to issue a ration card to the family immediately.